Electrical circuitry for refuse compactor

ABSTRACT

A refuse container having a built-in compaction head to compact refuse which is pivoted at the bottom edge and shaped to direct the compacting force downward. The compactor includes a safety circuit to prevent energization of the electrical socket unless it is plugged into the compactor.

Sept. 2, 1975 United States Patent 1191 Waggoner 1 ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY FOR REFUSE 3,327,169 6/1967 Comstock, Jr. ct 307 94 COMPACTOR [75] Inventor: Roy H. Waggoner, Maynardville,

Tenn.

[73] Assignee: Carrier Corporation, Syracuse NY. Primary Exuminer-L. T. Hix

Mar. 27, 1974 Appl. N0.: 455,487

Attorney, Agent, or Firm.1. Raymond Curtin; Donald F. Daley 22 Filed:

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[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures 3.049.208 8/1962 Parkes 317/1576] PATEN I'ED EP 2|975 3803, 161

SHEET 1 OF 3 PATENTEU SEP 2 WE SHEET 2 OF 3 &

FIG. 3

ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY FOR REFUSE COMPACTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to refuse packing apparatus and specifically to refuse containers having a built-in or integral refuse compacting head.

Refuse containers are conventionally located near apartment buildings, shopping centers, restaurants, factories or other places where large quantities of refuse are accumulated. Refuse collection vehicles periodically dump the containers and remove the refuse for transporting to remote transfer stations or disposal sites. The larger the amount of refuse which accumulates to the given area, the larger the size of container that is required or the larger number of containers that is required. In order to reduce the size of the container, the number of containers or the number of collection trips required by the collection vehicle, containers have been developed which have stationary compactors built into the containers so that the capacity of the container can be substantially increased by compacting the refuse.

Refuse containers which have compactors therein require special safety features due to the nature of compaction and the location and environment of the container. Since the container is dumped, a loose cord extending from the container is not desirable. Therefore, to supply power to the compacting mechanism a cord extending from the power supply to the container is used. Water from rain or refuse could produce a short if the cord were hot when it is connected from the container. In addition safety features are required to prevent opening of the container during compaction and to prevent someones arm or hand from being caught on the return stroke of the packing mechanism.

It is therefore an object of this invention to improve the safety characteristics of refuse containers having an automatic packing means therein.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a refuse container having a compaction head therein with an electrical control circuit which prevents energization of the electrical socket unless the plug is in the socket.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a refuse container packing system which will stop operation if the container cover is opened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing and other objects of this invention are attained by means of a circuit which will not allow energization of the electrical socket unless the plug is inserted in the socket. This is achieved by means of a shorting circuit within the plug which is connected through an electrical safety interlock in the compactor and which provides power to a relay which in turn controls the power to the socket. Therefore, removal of the plug from the socket de-energizes the relay and cuts off power to the socket. In addition. the power head is designed to allow space between the wall of the container and the head so that an arm or hand would not be caught between the handle and the wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is had to the following detailed description of the invention to be read in conjunction with me ac mpanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a refuse container with a portion broken away to show an internal packer head in a loading position in solid lines and a compacting position in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a refuse container of the type having a built-in refuse compaction head with a portion broken away to show the compaction head in the retracted or loading position;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a refuse container of the type having a built-in compaction head with a portion broken away to show the compaction head in an extended or compacting position;

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic wiring diagram of the electrical control circuitry used in connection with the compaction mechanism of the refuse container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of an electrical socket for a five-pronged plug; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a fivepronged electrical plug.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there is seen a refuse container generally designated 2, having side walls 4 and 6, a front wall 8, a back wall 10 and a bottom 12. The container is enclosed by two covers 14 and 16 hingedly secured to the back wall 10 by means of hinges l8 and 20 respectively. Standard refuse containers of the type shown are normally constructed of steel and are large and heavy. They usually are adapted for lifting and dumping by a truck or collection vehicle referred to as a front-end loader type. That is, a lifting mechanism having two forwardly projecting arms usually extend in front of the truck or cab to engage the container; they lift the container upward and back over the rear of the truck and invert the container into the truck for dumping purposes. On the outside of the side walls 4 and 6 there are metal sleeves 22 welded or secured to the side walls in a position to engage the forwardly projecting arms of the lift portion of the refuse vehicle.

Within the refuse container disclosed herein there is a packing head 24 as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The head 24 is pivotally mounted at the bottom of the container by means of pivot rod 26. The packing head 24 extends from the front to the back of the refuse container 2 and extends from the bottom to a point near the top of the container.

Prior art packing heads are flat and vertically oriented so that they move in a generally linear manner to compact refuse against the opposite side of the container. Alternatively, there are types which are located outside of the container and pivot about a vertical axis to force and compact refuse into the container. The packing head of the present invention is not vertically flat but rather has a top vertical section 23 and bottom vertical section 25 offset laterally one from the other and connected by a sloping middle section 27. The bottom of the packer head is located more closely to the center of the container than the top whereas the top is positioned back towards the side wall of the container. The offset in the packer 24 serves two purposes. First, it provides a space for the packing motor, pump, valves and hydraulic cylinder within the confines of the container and secondly, it provides the means to accomplish both a downward packing of the refuse against the bottom of the container and a horizontal packing of the refuse against the far wall of the container.

In the side wall 6 there is a well or indentation 28 at the bottom of the wall. The well 28 accommodates a motor 30, a pump 32, hydraulic cylinder 34, a fluid res ervoir 33, a relief valve 31 and four-way hydraulic valve 35. The hydraulic cylinder 34 is connected at the cylinder end to the bottom 12 of the refuse container nd at its rod end 36 to the middle sloping or offset portion 27 of the packing head at a point 38.

When the cylinder 34 is extended forcing the rod end 36 outwardly, the packer head 24 is caused to pivot about the point 26 from a first or loading position shown in FIG. 1 in solid lines and in FIG. 2 to a second or compacting position as shown in FIG. 3 and in dotted lines in FIG. 1. In moving from the loading position to the compacting position the upper flat section 23 of the packer moves from a position which is essentially parallel to the side wall 4 to a position wherein a line perpendicular to the face of the packer plate would intercept the bottom 12 of the container. This surface 23 of the packer plate 24 therefore tends to force the refuse downward against the bottom of the container. The slanted or offset surface 27 of the packer plate tends to force the refuse towards the wall 4 and compress the refuse against the wall 4. Thus, there is a tendency to compact the refuse against both the bottom of the container and the far side wall of the container. A plate or shield 40 is mounted on the top surface of the packer head 24 and extends outward over the edge of the packer plate towards the refuse so that during the pivotal movement of the packer plate the refuse does not tend to slide up the face of the surface 23. The shield 40 thus inhibits refuse from ridingover the top of the packer head.

After compaction the packer plate 24 returns to the loading position, as shown by solid lines in FIG. 1. Operation of the packer plate is as follows. An operator moves a handle 37 which operates the four-way valve to supply hydraulic fluid from the pump 32 to the head end of the hydraulic cylinder 34. The hydraulic fluid drives the rod of the cylinder forward moving the packer plate 24 through the compaction arc until the end of the stroke is reached at which point the pressure of the hydraulic fluid increases releasing the relief valve 31 allowing the hydraulic fluid to flow back to the reservoir 33. The operator then pulls the handle back to the neutral position at which case the packer plate 24 would stay in its forward position and no further hydraulic fluid would be pumped to the cylinder. If he then moves the handle 37 backward, he actuates the four-way handle 35 so that fluid is pumped to the rod end of the hydraulic cylinder moving the packer head 24 back to the original loading position. When the plate is in the loading position and can move no further, the pressure of the hydraulic fluid increases again releasing the relief valve 31 so that fluid flows to the reservoir 33. The handle 37 is then returned to the neutral position and the container 2 is ready to receive additional refuse.

The packer plate 24 is spaced from the wall 6 a distance sufficient to allow passage ofa mans hand or arm thereby eliminating the possibility of accidentally catching the operators hand or arm between the packer head and the wall 6.

In operation the refuse is normally dumped into the container 2 through the smaller cover 16. The cover 14 may also be opened and used as means for depositing refuse within the container. However, the cover 14 is primarily for purposes of emptying the container into the refuse receiving vehicle. When the container 2 is essentially full or has a substantial amount of refuse therein, a plug 42 is connected to a socket 44 which is on the end of an electrical cord not shown. The plug 42 and socket 44 are specifically designed to prevent power from being provided to the socket 44 until the plug 42 is connected to the socket 44. Since refuse containers are normally located out of doors, the surroundings can be wet from rain, contaminated from spilled refuse and generally ofa condition such that electrical shorting can be a hazard. In addition since the container 2 is lifted up and inverted by a truck for dumping purposes, it is not practical to have an electrical cord dangling from the container. Therefore, the plug 42 is mounted directly on the container and the socket 44 is mounted on the cord which extends from the power source orjunction panel (not shown) to the container. If the socket 44 were merely a normal electrical socket, it would be electrically hot when an operator removed it from the plug 42. Dripping water or refuse or any other condition could cause a short causing injury to the operator. To eliminate this possibility the circuit shown in FIG. 4 is used.

The left-hand portion of the schematic wiring diagram of FIG. 4 is that portion of the circuitry which is involved in the electrical junction panel associated with the socket shown in FIG. 5. The right-hand portion of the circuit shown in FIG. 4 is the circuitry including the motor which is contained in the refuse container 2 and terminates in the plug shown in FIG. 6. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the socket portion of the wiring is connected to a 30 amp 120/240 volt single phase three wire system. Lines 52 and 54 connect the electrical system to the socket outlets associated with the operation of the motor 30. A safety switch 56 is connected in lines 52 and 54 so that the entire circuit may be shut down by actuation of the switch. In addition fuses 58 and 60 are connected in lines 52 and 54 respectively to prevent overload of the circuit. Line 52 terminates in socket outlet 62 and line 54 terminates in socket outlet 64. Plug prongs 66 and 68 correspond with and are adapted to fit socket outlets 62 and 64. Lines 70 and 72 extend from the plug prong 66 and 68 to the motor 30. The motor 30 has an equipment ground line 74 which terminates in plug prong 76 and matches socket outlet 78.

A pair ofmechanical interlock switches prevent inadvertent operation of the packing head unless the covers on the refuse container are closed. A first limit switch 80 is located on one wall of the refuse container about 6 inches below the cover. A striker 81 extends downward from the cover so that the switch is closed when the covers of the container are closed and are open when the covers of the container are open. A second limit switch 82 is positioned behind the packing head 24 so that it is in a closed position when the packing head is in the loading position shown in FIG. 1 by the solid lines; that is, a position wherein the packing head is in the fully retracted position. And it is in an open position when the packing head moves away from the fully retracted position. Switches 80 and 82 are located in parallel within the circuit in a line 84 which terminates at each end in plug prongs 86 and 88. Plug prongs 86 and 88 correspond to socket outlets 90 and 92 respectively. The socket outlet 90 is connected to the third wire of the electrical system by line 94 which has located therein relay R1. Normally opened contacts Rl-l and Rl-2 are located in lines 62 and 64 respectively.

The remaining socket outlet 92 is connected to the hot line 54 by a line 95 and contains therein a series of switches to control the operation of the compactor. The first switch 96 is a power control switch. The second switch 97 is a start switch and the third switch 98 is a stop switch. Switches 96, 97 and 98 are push button switches which can be manually operated to start or stop the operation of the packer head. A set of normally opened contacts Rl3 are located in parallel to the start switch 97 and act as a holding circuit to maintain operation of the motor 30 after the switch 97 is released. Actuation of the stop switch 98 will break the circuit to the relay R1 and release the switch Rl3 which upon returning to its normally opened condition will no longer provide a holding circuit around the start switch 97.

In actual operation the circuitry is normally mounted in a panel or board at the rear of a restaurant, apart ment house. or other facility which uses and controls the refuse container 2. When the plug is inserted in the socket and the safety switch 56 is closed. no power is provided to the motor 30 to energize the pump 32 which in turn will provide fluid from a reservoir 33 to the hydraulic cylinder 34 for operation of the packer head 24 until the start button 97 is depressed. Depressing the power switch 96 places the unit in a ready condition; actuating the start button 97 provides power through lines 54, 95 and 84 to the limit switches 80 and 82. If either of the limit switches 80 and 82 are closed, power will be provided to the relay R] which in turn will close the normally open contacts Rl-l, Rl2 and Rl-3. With the switches R1l and Rl-2 closed, power is provided to the motor 30 which is then energized to start forward movement of the packer head 24. If the covers 14 and 16 of the container 2 are closed, the limit switch 80 will be closed and provide a continuous circuit to the relay Rl. When the packer head 24 starts to move away from the normal position to the compacting position, the limit switch 82 is released and opened. However, this will not terminate power to the relay Rl unless the covers of the container are opened thus having the limit switch 80 open. If at any point during the operation of the packer head 24 the cover 16 is opened releasing switch 80. power to the relay R] is cut off and switches Rl-l and Rl2 revert back to their open position cutting off power to the motor 30 stopping the movement of the packer 24. It will be observed that upon reclosing the cover 16, which in turn will close the limit switch 80, the unit may again be started by depressing the start switch 97.

In addition it will be observed that removing the socket 44 from the plug 42 de-energizes the relay R1 opening switches Rl-l and Rl2 thus cutting off power to the socket 44, and eliminating the possible ha zard of electrical shorting.

While the invention has been described with reference to the structure disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth, and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical safety circuit for use in a refuse compaction container of the type having a cover which is openable to receive refuse and closeable during compaction of refuse and a compaction head which is movable inside the container to compact refuse therein including a five-pronged electrical plug and a mating female socket,

two of the prongs of said plug being connected to a motor to drive the compacting head, a third prong ot said plug being connected to an equipment ground for the motor and the two remaining prongs of said plug forming a circuit including safety interlock switches actuated by closure of the covers of the container and by the packing head,

the socket being connected to a three-wire electrical circuit in a manner such that two of the wires are connected to the sockets adapted to receive the prongs connected to the electric motor, the socket adapted to receive the equipment ground being connected to an electrical ground, the two sockets adapted to receive the prongs connected to the mechanical interlock switches being connected to the third wire and to one of the wires connected to the electric motor socket, the circuit formed by the prongs and sockets in the circuit to the interlock switches having a relay adapted to close switches located in the lines to the sockets for the electric motor prongs and start and stop switches to energize and deenergize said relay whereby in order to operate said Compactor, the specially designed five-pronged plug must be inserted in the mating socket, mechanical interlock safety switches in the container must be closed and a start button must be depressed and whereby opening of the covers of the container will break the circuit to the relay deenergizing the motor. 

1. An electrical safety circuit for use in a refuse compaction container of the type having a cover which is openable to receive refuse and closeable during compaction of refuse and a compaction head which is movable inside the container to compact refuse therein including a five-pronged electrical plug and a mating female socket, two of the prongs of said plug being connected to a motor to drive the compacting head, a third prong ot said plug being connected to an equipment ground for the motor and the two remaining prongs of said plug forming a circuit including safety interlock switches actuated by closure of the covers of the container and by the packing head, the socket being connected to a three-wire electrical circuit in a manner such that two of the wires are connected to the sockets adapted to receive the prongs connected to the electric motor, the socket adapted to receive the equipment ground being connected to an electrical ground, the two sockets adapted to receive the prongs connected to the mechanical interlock switches being connected to the third wire and to one of the wires connected to the electric motor socket, the circuit formed by the prongs and sockets in the circuit to the interlock switches having a relay adapted to close switches located in the lines to the sockets for the electric motor prongs and start and stop switches to energize and de-energize said relay whereby in order to operate said compactor, the specially designed five-pronged plug must be inserted in the mating socket, mechanical interlock safety switches in the container must be closed and a start button must be depressed and whereby opening of the covers of the container will break the circuit to the relay de-energizing the motor. 